Yet another food/restaurant question...

[mommyof2boys1girl]

I just spent most of the morning on the Food photos thread, and am I ever HUNGRY NOW!!

here's my question - where are the best places to go with picky kids? Ds 1 eats almost anything (at least, he tries almost everything) Ds 2 eats mostly fruit and veggies, and nothing with sauce, and dd eats very tiny tastes of most things.

Looking for advice on the best places to take this crew for lunches/dinners when in DL - places with highchairs, not too $$$, best kids menus...

I am also doing my own research on allears.net, with the menus there, but I thought some insider opinions might be nice!

Also, add in any "you MUST TRY" items since this will be our first trip! The Monte Cristo and Tigger Tails are already on my list!!

Carm

 

[staley7580]

I dont think you will have to much trouble with the fruits and vegetables, they have stands that sell them... Im thinking there is a big one outside the Jungle cruise area, and one on main street. Fruits and veggies are very easy to come by there... So easy in fact that my dd tends to get the poos from to much fruit!

 

[Zoemakes5]

We typically bring individual serving sizes of applesauce and other fruit. When the kids were toddlers, I'd bring the finger food veggies, too, but they are long past allowing that! While they most definitely offer alot more fruit/veggie options, I've found them to be pretty expensive. I bring it if I can. Also, I've heard (though haven't done it yet) that you can get fruit or veggies in exchange for fries? Someone else will be able back me up or correct me on that.
My favorite places for kids is the character meals, particularly the buffets, as they have good hot food and a pretty nice variety, but that's not all that cheap.
I think one of the best quick meals we had at DLR was hot dogs from Coke Corner. DS1, DH and I had chili cheese dogs, and the rest of the kids had regular hot dogs with their choices of toppings.

 

[wowsmom]

I dont think you will have to much trouble with the fruits and vegetables, they have stands that sell them... Im thinking there is a big one outside the Jungle cruise area, and one on main street. Fruits and veggies are very easy to come by there... So easy in fact that my dd tends to get the poos from to much fruit!

There is also a fruit stand in Tomorrowland.

 

[staley7580]

There is also a fruit stand in Tomorrowland.

OHHHH yeah! I forgot about that one!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

There's a fruit stand across from Splash Mountain and also in Fantasyland.

 

[bumbershoot]

Just remember, it's really expensive fruit.

 

[kellymom]

Just remember, it's really expensive fruit.

Indeed! But they have the best grapes EVER. It is like each and every one knows they are Disney bound and grow with extra care and sweetness:

 

[mystic_path]

Its about $3.00 a bowl. But its worth it.... Im a mostly a veggie and so is my mom so we eat a ton of fruits and vegetables. We always get those fresh bowls of fruit to munch on and its so satisfying. We found them in

Fantasyland, Adventureland, and Tomorrowland... I also found them down by Paradise Pier and the Hollywood back lot in DCA .

What also is nice is when you go to different counter services like Coke Corner and get a hot dog or you go to restaraunts they give you bags of apples to munch on or some grapes and strawberries.

As for recommendations I will throw it out there... dole whips are fantastic and so are frozen bananas if you need a quick ice cream treat. For meals I really like going to the Bengal BBQ in Adventureland and ordering the veggie or the chicken skewers... YUMMY!

 

[MommyWithDreams]

Jeannie you are so right, there's something about those grapes. Ayden would get mad I would steal his. They are yummmmy

 

[nunzia]

...what are Tigger Tails?
although not healthy my kids loved the churros.

 

[mystic_path]

...what are Tigger Tails?
although not healthy my kids loved the churros.

As far as I am aware they are twisted cinnamon bread sticks. But theres something else with a name similar and its a candy of some sort.

 

[brergnat]

I have two kids, 3 and 1, and I know all about picky eaters.

We are local AP holders and we've eaten at a LOT of the DL restaurants. My favorite options are as follows:

1. Taste Pilot's Grill (DCA)-Great fast food/excellent kids menu options.

2. Redd Rocket's Pizza Port-this place is great all around. Pizza slices are large enough to share, plus there are salads and pasta dishes as well as desserts. It's fast and lots of ample seating (the highchairs here are a bit weird...I guess they're the highchairs of the "future")

3. River Belle Terrace-excellent food, large portions, good kids options. Can eat inside or out. Plenty of highchairs. Best to eat outside so kids have something to look at. It's in a great location, between Frontierland and NOS.

4. Hungry Bear-good option for burgers/fries. AMPLE seating, beautiful and quiet area. Kids will love watching the boat and ducks go by.

5. Pinocchio Village Haus-although not the best food, there is a good variety here and the restaurant inside is super cute. Lots of highchairs, a bathroom right outside the door, and conveniently located in Fantasyland.

6. The Whitewater Snacks Counter Service restaurant inside the Grand is a hidden gem. You can go directly in through the special hotel entrance in DCA and be there immediately. Menu is good, variety is good, seating is ample and the best part is that it is never crowded during the day, since everyone is at the parks.

7. ESPN zone is a favorite of our family for sit down. Although the kids menu is the worst I've ever seen (how many kids are going to want to "build your own salad"), there is enough of variety on the adult menu that it's easy to order something that you can share with the little ones (we usually get an appetizer pizza and a burger and we share all around). For the fruit/veggie eater in your gang, the ESPN zone offers a cool option on the kids menu that is a fruit/veggie/dips plate (fruits, veggies, wheat crackers, chicken salad, yogurt dip and ranch dip). It's a meal, $5.99, and includes a drink.

8. Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen is a MUST TRY. I like dinner better (more options) but lunch is good too. Kids menu is excellent, and although pricey, the portions are HUGE.

 

[bumbershoot]

As far as I am aware they are twisted cinnamon bread sticks. But theres something else with a name similar and its a candy of some sort.

I've never had either, but I *think* that:

Tiger Tails are the breadsticks from Bengal BBQ, and

Tigger Tails are marshmallows coated with orange stuff and drizzled in chocolate stuff to mimic Tigger's coloring.

 

[jenksdj]

I agree with Brergnat about ESPN Zone being good. Our kids loved the fruit/yoygurt dip AND the build your own salad! And what kid doesn't like nachos? It's real cheese too, not just that fake runny stuff! If your child doesn't like sauce, order the pasta without sauce. We did, and they were more than accommodating.

Sorry Bumbershoot, but you just don't do the Tigger Tail justice when you describe it as orange "stuff" drizzled with chocolate "stuff"!! It is 3 extremely fresh marshmallows, covered in caramel, then dipped in orange chocolate. The drizzled brown chocolate is to make it look like Tigger's tail, but the whole thing is decadent!! I am a chocolate lover and this was YUMMY!

When I read about the Tigger Tail on the DIS I thought I might be disappointed when I tried it. Didn't want to get my hopes up you know. Maybe too sweet? Maybe not good chocolate (like the waxy cheap kind)? But NO! You have to try it for yourself. We got one every time we went near Critter Country. That's' the only place we could find them. I'm drooling just thinking about it!

 

[staley7580]

I agree with Brergnat about ESPN Zone being good. Our kids loved the fruit/yoygurt dip AND the build your own salad! And what kid doesn't like nachos? It's real cheese too, not just that fake runny stuff! If your child doesn't like sauce, order the pasta without sauce. We did, and they were more than accommodating.

Sorry Bumbershoot, but you just don't do the Tigger Tail justice when you describe it as orange "stuff" drizzled with chocolate "stuff"!! It is 3 extremely fresh marshmallows, covered in caramel, then dipped in orange chocolate. The drizzled brown chocolate is to make it look like Tigger's tail, but the whole thing is decadent!! I am a chocolate lover and this was YUMMY!

When I read about the Tigger Tail on the DIS I thought I might be disappointed when I tried it. Didn't want to get my hopes up you know. Maybe too sweet? Maybe not good chocolate (like the waxy cheap kind)? But NO! You have to try it for yourself. We got one every time we went near Critter Country. That's' the only place we could find them. I'm drooling just thinking about it!

Dh LOVES him some Tigger Tails!! He literally gets 2 or 3 each trip!

 

[zukeeper]

I have to say that the fruit prices seemed very reasonable to me compared to the $3/lb they charge for sour grapes up here 9 mo out of the year. Just remember how much you pay for pockcorn etc at the movies.

I love to get the pizza and salad at the Village Haus in FL. Super cheap and feeds 2 small kids plus a salad for mom. I always ask for milk when I get a kids meal and get a cup with ice (for my drink I brought in with me). The new $3 toddler meals come with applesauce and kids meals come with apple slices.

Pasta at Red Rocket's in TL is probably a good bet for picky eaters although for some reason we never end up eating there. I think it was on the more expensive side.

I love the Test Pilot in CA by Soarin. I load up on help yourself lettuce and tomatoes. Kids meals come with carrots. Slip a couple tomatoes and pickles to my kids and get them a milkshake - healthier than a pop... Funny story though was when I grabbed a bunch of pickles for my little one, probably 3 at the time, and he got a jalapeno that had made it's way into the pickles. I didn't figure it out at first. He just kept running back and forth and I had no idea what was wrong.

The bread bowl with salad is good at Pacific Wharf Cafe. If the kids don't like the salad, they will love the bread. Watch the soups, they can be a little different.

Fav junkfood - McD's fries never tasted so good as in DL, love the fish and chips in FL, the Beiniets (spelling?) in NOS are soooooooo good. The Monte Cristo is the best ever and you can get it at Cafe Orleans if a ressie at BB is unavailable. Can't visit without having a churro a day and you gotta let the kids have a mickey ice cream bar while watching a parade. In CA the adults should try the fine Microbeers or Margaritas if the temp is high.

I may be overplanning, but I really liked printing the menus for both parks and being able to look them over to figure out what we wanted and where to go. I just kept it handy for consulting.

Check out this link if you are interested in previewing menus -
http://www.allearsnet.com/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm

Have fun!

 

[trodrigue]

They have the infamous Tigger Tale of course. I didn't try it, but now wish I had. They have lovely honey pot carmel chocolate apples, and just oodles and oodles of wonderful, delicous "turtle" sort of carmel, nut, chocolate candies. I could go on and on, but I won't. You get the picture. All of it is delish!

OOPs, forgot the question.

White Water Cafe at GC is a secret treasure. I have never seen that place crowded. The people that work there are very accomodating. I ordered a kids burger, plain, meat on the side. They came to my table twice to clarify and then brought cheese on the meat and the bun. Perfect! They even sell beer and wine, if you are inclined to pay the prices. Worth it sometimes, I am sure.